Camp Butler, Newport News Va. Sept 13^th 1861

 

Dear Sister

                        I will now comence to write you a letter but I do not expect to be able to finish it to day as I cannot find news enough to fill it up. We are having very pleasant weather of late, and it is quite comfortable considering that we are in old Virginia. It does not seem to me that it has been very hot here this summer not a great deal warmer than it usualy is at home, but I supose it is because I have got used to the climate. I like this place very much. I have given up the idea of our being sent to Hatteras, as Col Hawkins Zouaves left day before yesterday for that place, about half of the Reg were already there as the went on the Expidition.

Things remain about the same in this vicinity, excepting that if any thing I think that we begin to move, or will soon. The sixteenth are coming up from the fort soon. An Expidition will I am told leave this place to night or tomorrow to take a battery out about eight miles from here. a party left this place a few nights since to look around and see what they could discover. they suddenly came uppon the enemys picket out about five miles from here and they raised the alarm. they were fired on by them and two of our men were wounded and a horse shot twice through the neck. there was quite a party of our men, but coming so suddenly uppon them they / were taken by surprise, and being all Dutchmen they turned and came home. I know not who will go on this, wheather any of us or not. I am ready. Thomas Mullen is at work on the gun carriages to day getting ready for it. There is considerable to be done to tear down all of their Batteries on the other side of the river. They fired quite a number of guns from one of them last night. We at first thought it was on account of the Bogus news news which came up here yesterday. The story was that Washington was attact and that there had been a great slaughter on our side but that the rebels were slowly retreating. That is a specimen of the stories we hear. There are six batteries in sight from here and we can hear their drums beat every day. The steeples of the churches in Norfolk are all in sight from this place. I may go up there some day and look at them. it is I believe only ten miles from here. Yorktown about the same distance. I feel first rate since we came up here at one time I felt rather bad and grew poor but for the last twenty one days I have gained thirteen pounds I got down to 154 but I now weigh 164 the most I ever did. I never fealt better. Our living begins to go decent Salt Horse &c. I had some baked beans last sunday the first that I have had since we came from Hampton Village they were nice. I supose I should not have called them so at home, but they were here for the first time of a sunday morning. I thought of my baked pudding and cream, but what was the / to think of it. We live better than I had any idea of when I came out here but of course we do not live as we would at home. Albert sent me some Halebout strip and it tasted nice to me, but Eatables from home are the best. I expected to get a letter from home yesterday but did not. I should think I might hear from there oftener. I wrote to Miss King yesterday. I went out beyond the picket yesterday and got a mess of sweet potatoes for my dinner. six of us went. five went out the other day and four of them were taken prisoners but they went farther than we did. Major Phelps sends out men from the Mass Batalion for picket as he depends uppon them more than any of the others. it is quite a compliment for us. if you have not sent my box you may send it as soon as you please. It comes handy to have a box to flee to when one is out of funds as we all are at the present time. I find one cannot get allong comfortable without some change, as some meals we have messes which none of us like. for instance twice a week we have a dish composed of Condensed Vegetables, a little of every thing ground up and pressed. Then we have a dish of dried potatoes and ground up pine, but pay day comes soon, the time is up now, and we shall live once more. If I had butter all of the time I could live a king. I hope you will send some. they ask 30 cts for furkin butter and 40 for new here which is tough. We all get allong well. I have seen quareling of no kind at all since I came into the company. there is not a better ghang in the camp. Seth and Walter are well and Mr Plinney 

 

Write all of the news. Give my respects to all. I have forgoten who I wrote to last but it will make no difference as you all live together. I believe there will be fighting done soon. tell Mother not to trouble herself about me as I am all right The Cofts father died this week. Will there be any Cider made this fall. Have any of the boys drawed their money from the town. I would not write this as there is no news but I thought you might think I had moved if I did not write. I wrote this in a hurry, as I have to go on drill soon. Give my respects to all of the boys and tell them to write. I have done my washing to day. If I get home again I shall take in washing. tell Edward how do you do for me. Albert thinks of coming out here to see the place. it will well by me. Write how every thing comes on. Give my respects to the Briggs girls and all of the rest. I saw Thomas Bonys death in the Rock. Trouble not yourselves about me. I have taken one drink of coffee since I left home nothing since but cold water. Where is John Lamm now. Good bye

 

                                                                                    From your Brother

                                                                                                S C Wright

                                                                        3 oclock PM

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